Electric Aggregation Referendum Voted Down in Algonquin, LITH

Algonquin and Lake in the Hills voters said "no" to an electric aggregation referendum in their villages during Tuesday's primary election, according to unofficial results. 

The vote was especially close in Algonquin.

In Algonquin, the referendum had 1,576 "no" votes compared to 1,567 "yes" votes with all precincts reporting in McHenry and Kane counties, according to unofficial results Tuesday night. 

In Lake in the Hills, the referendum had 964 "yes" votes compared 1,137 "no" votes with all precincts reporting in McHenry County. The vote totals do not include provisional or late absentee ballots. 

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The refereundum question asked voters: "Shall the Village of Lake in the Hills/Algonquin have the authority to arrange for the supply of electricity for its residential and small commercial retail customers who have not opted out of such program?"

Municipal aggregation allows local governments to bundle, or aggregate, residential and small retail electric accounts together and buy electricity at a group rate. 

The practice is similar to how communities negotiate contracts for waste disposal and cable television.

The electrical aggregation referendum was on the ballot in several area communities during Tuesday's primary.